All I want is to have my PC type as I speak. Today three programs - made by Dragon Systems, Kurzweil, and IBM - promise just that. After trying each one, I find they're all at a loss for words.
Dragon's Dictate software is easiest to use and the most accurate. Dragon has a good reputation among disabled students, lawyers, and journalists: put a microphone in front of a Windows-based computer, and you can use it without touching the keyboard. The deluxe US$1,695 DragonDictate, which recognizes 60,000 words, isn't cheap; more modest versions include a 10,000-word model for $99. You'll find yourself spelling out perhaps 10 percent of the words you use daily. Fortunately, you only have to spell them out once.
The system understands grammar, so it recognizes the difference between "Please turn right" and "Please write your name." When it goofs up, you either add the word to its vocabulary or speak more clearly. A quiet room is a necessity.
I've used Dragon successfully for hour-long chat sessions, but for writing email, I still find it easier to type and take frequent breaks.
##### DragonDictate 2.5.2: US$99, $395, $695, or $1,695. Dragon Systems: +1 (617) 965 5200.
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